Calibrachoa plant named ‘JGCAL7901’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Calibrachoa  plant named ‘JGCAL7901’, characterized by its compact, upright to outwardly spreading and mounding to eventually trailing plant habit; moderately vigorous growth habit; freely branching habit; dense and bushy appearance; freely flowering habit; bright yellow and red purple-colored flower petals; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Calibrachoa sp.

Cultivar denomination: ‘JGCAL7901’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Calibrachoa plant, botanically known as Calibrachoa sp. and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘JGCAL7901’.

The new Calibrachoa plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Bonsall, Calif. The objective of the breeding program is to create new uniform and freely-branching Calibrachoa plants with unique and attractive flower coloration and good garden performance.

The new Calibrachoa plant originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor on Mar. 28, 2013 in Bonsall, Calif. of a proprietary seedling selection of Calibrachoa sp. identified as code number 11C257-01, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary seedling selection of Calibrachoa sp. identified as code number 11C110-02, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Calibrachoa plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in Bonsall, Calif. on Feb. 26, 2014.

Asexual reproduction of the new Calibrachoa plant by vegetative terminal cuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in Bonsall, Calif. since Feb. 27, 2014 has shown that the unique features of this new Calibrachoa plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Calibrachoa have not been observed under all possible combinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘JGCAL7901’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘JGCAL7901’ as a new and distinct Calibrachoa plant:

-   -   1. Compact, upright to outwardly spreading and mounding to         eventually trailing plant habit.     -   2. Moderately vigorous growth habit.     -   3. Freely branching habit; dense and bushy appearance.     -   4. Freely flowering habit.     -   5. Bright yellow and red purple-colored flower petals.     -   6. Good garden performance.

The new Calibrachoa plant can be compared to plants of the female parent selection. Plants of the new Calibrachoa differ primarily from plants of the female parent selection in flower color as plants of the female parent selection have red purple-colored flowers with yellow-colored throats.

The new Calibrachoa plant can be compared to plants of the male parent selection. Plants of the new Calibrachoa differ primarily from plants of the male parent selection in flower color as plants of the male parent selection have dark purple-colored flowers with yellow-colored throats. In addition, plants of the new Calibrachoa have larger flowers than plants of the male parent selection.

Plants of the new Calibrachoa can be compared to plants of the Calibrachoa sp. ‘USCAL91001’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 23,232. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Bonsall, Calif., plants of the new Calibrachoa differed primarily from plants of ‘USCAL91001’ in flower color as plants of ‘USCAL91001’ had red purple-colored flowers with yellow-colored star-shaped pattern and centers. In addition, plants of the new Calibrachoa had larger flowers than plants of ‘USCAL91001’.

Plants of the new Calibrachoa can also be compared to plants of the Calibrachoa sp. ‘CBRZ0003’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 23,322. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Bonsall, Calif., plants of the new Calibrachoa differed primarily from plants of ‘CBRZ0003’ in flower color as plants of ‘CBRZ0003’ had red purple-colored flowers with yellow-colored centers. In addition, plants of the new Calibrachoa had larger flowers than plants of ‘CBRZ0003’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Calibrachoa plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Calibrachoa plant.

The photograph on the first sheet is a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘JGCAL7901’ grown in a container.

The photograph on the second sheet is a close-up view of a typical flowering plant of ‘JGCAL7901’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations and measurements describe plants grown during the autumn in 12-cm containers in an acrylic-covered greenhouse in Carleton, Mich. and an outdoor nursery in Fort Worth, Tex. under cultural practices typical of commercial Calibrachoa production. Plants were twelve weeks from planting rooted cuttings when the photographs and description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2007 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Calibrachoa sp. ‘JGCAL7901’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary seedling selection of             Calibrachoa sp. identified as code number 11C257-01, not             patented.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary seedling selection of             Calibrachoa sp. identified as code number 11C110-02, not             patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By vegetative terminal cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About four days at             temperatures ranging from 17° C. to 29° C.         -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About six days at             temperatures ranging from 17° C. to 21° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted plant, summer.—About 22 days at             temperatures ranging from 17° C. to 29° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted plant, winter.—About 25 days at             temperatures ranging from 17° C. to 21° C.         -   Root description.—Medium in thickness, fibrous; typically             white in color, actual color of the roots is dependent on             substrate composition, water quality, fertilizer type and             formulation, substrate temperature and physiological age of             roots.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; medium density. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Upright to outwardly spreading and             mounding to eventually trailing plant habit; moderately             vigorous growth habit; moderate growth rate; freely             branching habit with about three to five primary lateral             branches with secondary branches potentially developing at             every node; dense and bushy appearance.         -   Plant height.—About 15.3 cm.         -   Plant diameter.—About 24 cm by 25 cm. -   Lateral branch description:     -   -   Length.—About 14 cm.         -   Diameter.—About 2 mm.         -   Internode length.—About 1.1 cm.         -   Strength.—Strong, flexible.         -   Aspect.—Initially upright then outwardly spreading to             eventually trailing.         -   Texture and luster.—Pubescent; matte.         -   Color, developing.—Close to 144A.         -   Color, developed.—Close to 146A to 146B. -   Leaf description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Before flowering, alternate; after flowering,             opposite; leaves simple; non-variegated.         -   Length.—About 1.75 cm.         -   Width.—About 1 cm.         -   Shape.—Elliptical.         -   Apex.—Broadly acute to rounded.         -   Base.—Attenuate.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces.—Pubescent,             minute; matte.         -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate; arcuate.         -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to 143A.             Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 144B. Fully             expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to N137B to N137C;             venation, close to 146B to 146C. Fully expanded leaves,             lower surface: Close to 147B; venation, close to 146B to             146C.         -   Petioles.—Length: About 3 mm. Diameter: About 1 mm. Texture             and luster, upper and lower surfaces: Pubescent, minute;             matte. Color, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 146B to             146C. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower type and flowering habit.—Single salverform flowers             arising from leaf axils; freely flowering habit with             typically about 80 flowers and flower buds developing per             plant; flowers face upright to outwardly.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Natural flowering season.—Plants of the new Calibrachoa             begin flowering about six weeks after planting; plants             flower continuously from the spring though the summer until             frost.         -   Flower longevity.—Individual flowers last about one week on             the plant; flowers persistent.         -   Flower buds.—Length: About 1.5 cm. Diameter: About 5 mm.             Shape: Oblong, elongate. Texture and luster: Pubescent,             minute; matte. Color: Close to 141A.         -   Flower diameter.—About 3.5 cm.         -   Flower length (height).—About 2.5 cm.         -   Flower throat diameter.—About 8 mm.         -   Flower tube length.—About 2 cm.         -   Flower tube diameter.—Proximally, about 4 mm; distally,             about 1 cm.         -   Corolla.—Arrangement: Five fused petals opening into a             flared trumpet; moderately lobed. Petal lobe length (from             throat): About 1.5 cm. Petal lobe width: About 1.6 cm. Petal             shape: Roughly spatulate. Petal apex: Rounded to shallowly             emarginate. Petal margin: Entire; moderately undulate and             reflexing. Petal texture and luster, upper surface: Smooth,             glabrous, velvety; matte. Petal texture and luster, lower             surface: Pubescent, minute; matte. Throat texture and             luster: Smooth, glabrous; matte. Tube texture and luster:             Pubescent, minute and primarily along the veins; matte.             Color: Petal lobe, when opening, upper surface: Towards the             margins, close to N57A; edges, close to NN155A; center and             towards the throat, close to 7A. Petal lobe, when opening,             lower surface: Towards the margins, close to N66C to N66D;             edges, close to NN155A; center and towards the throat, close             to 7A to 7C. Petal lobe, fully opened, upper surface:             Towards the margins, close to N57A to N57C; edges, close to             NN155A; center and towards the throat, close to 7A;             venation, close to 59A; venation becoming less conspicuous             with development. Petal lobe, fully opened, lower surface:             Towards the margins, close to N66C to N66D; edges, close to             NN155A; center and towards the throat, close to 7A to 7C;             venation, close to 59A. Throat: Close to 7A; venation, close             to 7A. Tube: Close to 7A to 7C; venation, close to 59A.         -   Calyx.—Arrangement: One star-shaped calyx tube with five             sepals fused towards the base and arranged in a single             whorl. Length: About 1.1 cm. Diameter: About 7 mm. Sepal             length: About 1 cm. Sepal width: About 3 mm. Sepal shape:             Lanceolate. Sepal apex: Acute. Sepal margin: Entire. Sepal             texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces: Pubescent,             minute; matte. Sepal color, upper surface: Close to 141B.             Sepal color, lower surface: Close to 141A.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 2 cm. Diameter: About 1 mm. Angle:             About 30° to 45° from stem axis. Strength: Strong, flexible.             Texture and luster: Pubescent, minute; matte. Color: Close             to 144A.         -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity: Five per flower.             Filament length: About 7 mm. Filament color: Close to 145C             to 145D. Anther size: About 1 mm by 1 mm. Anther shape:             Round. Anther color: Close to 8B. Pollen amount: None             observed to date. Pistils: Quantity: One per flower. Pistil             length: About 7.5 mm. Style length: About 7 mm. Style color:             Close to 145B. Stigma diameter: About 1 mm. Stigma shape:             Round. Stigma color: Close to 146A. Ovary color: Close to             145B. Seeds and fruits: Seed and fruit development have not             been observed on plants of the new Calibrachoa to date. -   Garden performance: Plants of the new Calibrachoa have been observed     to have good garden performance and tolerate wind, rain and     temperatures ranging from about 1° C. to about 40° C. -   Pathogen & pest resistance: To date, plants of the new Calibrachoa     have not been observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common     to Calibrachoa plants. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Calibrachoa plant named ‘JGCAL7901’ as illustrated and described. 